Trump Demands $10 Billion from BBC in Defamation Lawsuit
Donald Trump is suing the British public broadcaster BBC for $10 billion, alleging that they created a misleading video edit of him. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Miami, seeks at least $5 billion in damages for each of the two charges: defamation and violation of a Florida law regarding deceptive and unfair trade practices.
The 79-year-old billionaire expressed his grievances to the press, claiming, "They literally put words in my mouth." A few weeks ago, Trump had mentioned he would seek "between one and five billion dollars" from the BBC.
The BBC, known for its global reach and prestige, has faced mounting scrutiny after revelations about its flagship news magazine "Panorama." The program aired segments of a speech by Trump from January 6, 2021, edited in a way that made it appear he was explicitly urging his supporters to storm the Capitol in Washington.
On that day, hundreds of his supporters, incited by his unfounded allegations of election fraud, stormed the sanctuary of American democracy in an attempt to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s victory.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team criticized the BBC, stating, "The once-respected BBC, now discredited, defamed President Trump by intentionally and maliciously altering his speech to blatantly interfere in the 2024 presidential election." They further accused the BBC of consistently misleading its audience regarding Trump, serving its left-leaning political agenda.
The controversy has reignited the heated debate in the UK about the operations of public broadcasting and its impartiality, especially as the BBC has already faced several scandals in recent years. The issue has led to the resignations of its director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness.
BBC chairman Samir Shah sent a letter of apology to Donald Trump but failed to placate him. He rejected Trump’s accusations and expressed determination to contest any defamation claims. Trump’s lawsuit argues that, despite the apology, the BBC has shown no genuine remorse for its actions and has not undertaken significant institutional reforms to prevent future journalistic abuses.
Since returning to power, Trump has launched or threatened lawsuits against several media outlets in the United States, some of which have paid substantial sums to settle claims. He has also welcomed a variety of content creators and influencers into the White House, while increasing his attacks on traditional media journalists.
One of the new media figures invited by the Trump administration is the conservative British channel GB News, associated with anti-immigration party leader Nigel Farage.